Low voltage mounting device for direct mounting of low voltage components to drywall
A low voltage mounting device for installing low voltage components on a wall or ceiling. The low voltage mounting device includes a round frame member and a plurality of wings that are rotatable with respect to the frame member. The rotatable wings are fixed on the end of fasteners that extend through the frame member and are rotatable with respect thereto. An outward extending flange on the frame member enables flush mounting to the wall or ceiling surface. A low voltage component may be mounted directly to the frame member. The low voltage mounting device enables direct installation to the drywall and does not require mounting to a stud or other frame member.
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This invention relates to mounting devices for low voltage components and specifically to a low voltage mounting device that connects directly to the drywall on an interior wall.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSeveral approaches exist for connecting low voltage components such as coax cable, fiber optic cable, communications cables, or similar low voltage and wire in new construction. Typically, a metal or plastic box is secured to the framework of a building during the roughing-out phase of construction with the drywall or other finishing wall material later applied over the box. The metal or plastic box is typically secured to the framework or studs of the building with fasteners such as nails or screws driven securely into the studs. While such an arrangement can provide a satisfactory mount for low voltage devices during the rough-out phase of construction, when the studs are unobstructed and accessible, it is not a valid method for mounting a low voltage component to a finished wall.
When mounting a low voltage mounting device to a finished wall, the installer must typically locate a stud and cut a hole in the drywall in the desired location. Since many low voltage mounting devices include captive fasteners, making a hole in the wall to accommodate the low voltage device typically requires the installer to create a hole large enough to provide access to the captive fasteners. Creating the hole for the low voltage mounting device however usually creates an oversize hole, which frequently forces the installer to repair the wall in the vicinity of the mounting device. Installing prior art low voltage mounting devices on finished walls is therefore inefficient and forces undesirable repair time.
What is needed therefore is a low voltage mounting device that can be easily and quickly installed on a finished wall. The low voltage mounting device should also be of simple design, easy to operate, and capable of being manufactured at low cost.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGESThe present invention provides a low voltage mounting device that can be installed easily and quickly on a wall or ceiling. All that is necessary for the mounting of the low voltage device is a simple hole saw and a screwdriver. Unlike prior art mounting devices that must be secured directly to the framework of a building, the low voltage mounting device of the present invention can be mounted in any desirable location and does not require mounting directly to the framing. Rotatable wings on the low voltage mounting device of the present invention enable rapid and precise mounting of low voltage components with a minimum amount of effort by the installer.
These and other advantages will be understood by reading the following detailed description in conjunction with reference to the attached drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a low voltage mounting device for installing low voltage components on a wall or ceiling. The low voltage mounting device includes a round frame member and a plurality of wings that are rotatable with respect to the frame member. The rotatable wings are fixed on the end of fasteners that extend through the frame member and are rotatable with respect thereto. An outward extending flange on the frame member enables flush mounting to the wall or ceiling surface. A low voltage component may be mounted directly to the frame member. The low voltage mounting device enables direct installation to the drywall and does not require mounting to a stud or other frame member.
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- 20 low voltage mounting device
- 22 frame member
- 24 outer surface of frame member
- 26 inner surface of frame member
- 28 rotatable wing
- 30 boss
- 32 inner bore in boss
- 34 outer bore in boss
- 36 aperture
- 38 recessed area on outer surface of frame member
- 40 opening
- 42 inward extending flange
- 44 leg member
- 45 recessed area on inner surface of frame member
- 46 slot in inward extending flange
- 48 outer surface of leg
- 50 outward extending flange
- 52 rear surface of outward extending flange
- 54 shelf
- 56 support member or brace portion
- 57 arcuate outer surface of brace portion
- 58 distal end of leg
- 60 main leg portion
- 64 lateral axis across frame member
- 72 proximal end of wing
- 74 distal end of wing
- 76 foot
- 78 tab
- 80 flat face
- 82 bore in wing
- 84 adjustable fastener
- 86 fastening arrangement
- 88 outer periphery of frame member
- 90 hole
- 92 drywall
- 94 wall
- 96 cover plate
- 98 cover fastener
- 100 holes in cover plate
- 102 inner periphery of inward extending flange
- Θ1 angle through which wings are rotated
- D1 outer diameter of frame member
- D2 outer diameter of inward extending flange
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With reference to the view of the inner surface 26 of the frame member 22 in
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Although the description above contains many specific descriptions, materials, and dimensions, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
Claims
1. A low voltage mounting device comprising:
- a generally circular one-piece frame member including an outward extending flange having an outer periphery, an inner periphery, and an inner surface;
- an inward extending flange extending from said inner surface of said outward extending flange at the said inner periphery;
- a fastening arrangement for securing said frame member to a wall;
- said fastening arrangement including a plurality of fasteners extending through said frame member, each of said fasteners including an end;
- a wing on the end of each of said fasteners, said wings including outward extending tabs thereon; and
- a plurality of legs extending from said inner surface of said outward extending flange,
- whereby tightening of one of said fasteners causes said tab of said wing to engage one of said legs thereby stopping rotation of said wing and enabling additional tightening of said fasteners to draw each of said wings toward said frame member.
2. The low voltage mounting device of claim 1 wherein said legs are substantially L-shaped and include a substantially planar main leg portion and a brace portion.
3. The low voltage mounting device of claim 2 wherein
- said inward extending flange includes an outer surface;
- said brace portion includes an outer surface; and
- said outer surface of said brace portion of each of said legs is flush with said outer surface of said inward extending flange.
4. The low voltage mounting device of claim 2 wherein
- said inward extending flange is circular shaped with an outer surface;
- said brace portion of said leg is an integral extension of said inward extending flange; and
- said brace portion includes an arcuate surface even with said outer surface of said inward extending flange.
5. The low voltage mounting device of claim 1 wherein
- said inward extending flange includes an inner periphery; and
- said fasteners of said fastening arrangement are inward of said inner periphery of said inward extending flange.
6. The low voltage mounting device of claim 5 including one or more bosses integral with said frame member.
7. The low voltage mounting device of claim 6 wherein said bosses extend from said inner periphery of said inward extending flange.
8. The low voltage mounting device of claim 7 wherein said bosses include one or more bores therein.
9. The low voltage mounting device of claim 8 wherein said bosses include two of said bores including an inner bore and an outer bore with said inner bore being nearer the center of said generally circular frame member than said outer bore.
10. The low voltage mounting device of claim 6 wherein
- each of said bosses is adjacent one of said legs; and
- said frame member includes a shelf bridging between each of said bosses and each of said adjacent legs.
11. The low voltage mounting device of claim 1 wherein
- each of said wings includes a proximal end and a distal end;
- said proximal end of each of said wings includes a bore therein; and
- said distal end includes a foot thereon.
12. The low voltage mounting device of claim 11 wherein said foot of each of said wings includes a flat face thereon.
13. The low voltage mounting device of claim 1 wherein said frame member is molded in one piece of plastic.
14. The low voltage mounting device of claim 13 wherein said plastic is selected from the group including polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride, polystryrene, and acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene.
15. The low voltage mounting device of claim 1 wherein
- said inward extending flange includes a slot therein adjacent each of said legs; and
- said slots in said inward extending flange accepting said wings therein when said fastening arrangement is in a fully tightened state.
16. The low voltage mounting device of claim 1 wherein said wings are each molded in one piece of plastic.
17. The low voltage mounting device of claim 16 wherein said plastic is selected from the group including polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride, polystryrene, and acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene.
18. The low voltage mounting device of claim 16 wherein said fasteners are at least 1.5 inches in length.
Type: Grant
Filed: Feb 6, 2008
Date of Patent: Jul 20, 2010
Assignee: Arlington Industries, Inc. (Scranton, PA)
Inventor: Thomas J. Gretz (Clarks Summit, PA)
Primary Examiner: Dhiru R Patel
Application Number: 12/012,907
International Classification: H01H 9/02 (20060101);